Short Summary

Following President Nixon's announcement of a ceasefire in Vietnam, international observers are speculating on the future of U.

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Following President Nixon's announcement of a ceasefire in Vietnam, international observers are speculating on the future of U.S. Bases in Thailand, and on the presence of American warships in the Gulf of Tong King.

During the mid-sixties America Built a number of secret Air Force Bases in Thailand. From these bases the giant B-52 bombers could strike into Vietnam. It's from the American-built port of Sattahip that the Utapao Base is supplied with 500 lb. bombs.

While American B-52's based in Thailand hit Vietnam from the West, the U.S. mobile strike force of carrier-based jet fighters and bombers struck from the Gulf of Tong King.

During the long course of the Vietnam war the American Sixth Fleet showed itself to be awesome in its fire power, carrying out continuous raids lasting up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Vietnam ceasefire is to take effect on Saturday (27th). But observers believe that U.S. bases in Thailand, and the U.S. warships in the Tong King Gulf, will remain as a safeguard.

SYNOPSIS: International observers are speculating about the future of United States bases in Thailand when the Vietnam war ends.

During the mid-sixties, America built a number of bases in Thailand. One of these, the port of Sattahip, supplies the nearby Air Force base of Utapao with 500 pound bombs for B-52 bombers.

Utapao is the nearest strategic Air Command Base to Vietnam. In the past it boasted it could deliver bombs on target more reliably and cheaply than any other base.

In his "war is over speech" President Nixon made no mention of the future of these American bases in Thailand. Nor did he refer to the future of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, in the Gulf of Tong King. While Thai-based B-52s hit Vietnam from the West, the carrier-based jet fighters and bombers operated from the Tong King Gulf.

The American Sixth Fleet has shown itself to be awesome in its firepower -- carrying out continuous raids lasting up to 12 hours, seven days a week. Since 1965, American aircraft have dropped an estimated seven and a half million tons of bombs on Vietnam,
This is said to be three-and-a-half times the total drooped during the second World War. The Vietnam ceasefire is to take effect on Saturday, but observers believe the U.S. bases in Thailand, and the U.S. warships in the Tong King Gulf, will remain as a safeguard. From these positions, any part of Indo-China remains within reach of the United States' bombers.